The Student Transfer And Retention Support (STARS) Program is designed to help eligible Rend Lake College students make the most of their college years by offering the counseling and academic support that may be needed to successfully complete a college degree and transfer to a four-year university. The STARS Program assists 160 Rend Lake College students each year.

Student Support Services is a grant developed in 1965 under Title IV ofthe Higher Education and Cooperation Act and is administered by the U. S. Department of Education. There are over 900 Student Support Services programs serving college students nationwide. Rend Lake College was awarded a TRIO Student Support Services grant for the first time in 1997.